THE ADDICTION DREAM

Music that draws you in and keeps you there. A lot of it is slow tempoed or subtle on the verge of jazzy, but it is all quite pleasant and emotional--especially the floating keyboard work and acrobatic yet sensitive vocals. Reminds me a bit of a cross between"Rabbit"-era THE TEA CLUB and last year's marvelous newcomer, AUTUMN CHORUS. The music's subtleties are so mystifying and magical. I don't usually like so much electric piano work, but this one works. Kudos for creating such sensitive, beautiful, emotional music!

Favorite songs: the eery, jazzy, and almost liturgical "Insatiable" (5:31) (8/10) and "Pious Greedy Few" (3:55) (8/10), my favorite, "The Conservative" (7:15) (9/10), "Dark Skies" (6:09) (8/10), "Flying" (5:38) (9/10), and "Survivor" (7:23) (8/10).

4 stars for the fact that the songs eventually begin to blend, sound a bit monochromatic. Still, Jason O'Neill-Butler has an awesome voice, and he's singing over some awesome songs/sounds. I'm not sure which I like better: this one or I AND THOU's Speak. Both have great vocals and and are keyboard-driven. Check them out and decide for yourself.

What a wonderful album. There was a time when I questioned myself as to why I like the particular types of music I do... what a tremendous waste of time. You should just listen to as much as you can and try to appreciate the art. Sometimes it takes multiple listens for me to appreciate a work, sometimes the attraction is immediate and powerful. Such was the case with this. The first thing that catches my ear is that it is interesting music. Different form what practically everybody else is doing. If you don't like vocals, steer clear. But if you appreciate distinctive voices and unusual melody, dig in. As Finnforest said, there is subtlety in this music. If I were asked who they sound like... well they have their own sound, but I am reminded of Terraced Garden from the past and Glass Kites from the present at times. Thank you Prog Archives and Finnforest for bringing this artist (and so many more) to my attention. Four stars from me on this one. Take a moment and check this out, it's worth it. And if it doesn't appeal to you, revisit it later when your mood changes. It may be subtle, it may seem quiet, but if you rate your music by how it can influence how you feel- listen. It is a powerful album.

Attention Tea Club fans

Typically I'll listen to an album weeks or months before writing about it but after a few spins at work today I could not resist getting the ball rolling on this fine debut. The title above refers to the fact that during my first play, I almost fell off my chair at how much some of the vocals and even certain bits of playing and mood reminded me of my favorite Northeast American band, the mighty Tea Club. Far across the country the Portland based trio The Addiction Dream note Floyd and Radiohead as influences but if you're like me you may find an uncanny similarity to the mellower side of Rabbit-era Tea Club. While I'm guessing they've never heard of each other, I don't think I'll be the last prog rock writer to mention this. Of course there are significant differences as well but I had to mention my initial experience.

"Essence" is quite simply a fantastic and impressive debut with songs that pull you in emotionally and hold your interest. Haunting and somewhat fragile vocals very much in the McGowan brother style are the first thing you'll notice, though Jason O'Neill-Butler does not go into vocal overdrive as often, he's a tad more reserved. I'm not sure if he is self-harmonizing or doing so with keyboardist Jacob Savage, or both, but whatever the case the results are just beautiful. Beyond the great vocals the two create spellbinding avenues on keys and guitar, I love all the piano that Savage employs. Last but by no means least is the drumming of Paul Hardie who, and sorry to repeat myself, but more than once reminded me of Kyle Minnick. I'll stop now.

They show talent beyond their years here with thoughtful songwriting and lots of little extras that make it special. Plenty of mood and beauty come courtesy of occasional strings from Owen Hofmann-Smith and Sharon Cannon. They use some cool environmental sounds and samples to great effect on several songs. The opening of "Insatiable" is some clip of a scientist talking about how loneliness is one of the only things medicine can't help us deal with, it works so well with the music that follows, melancholic yes yet oddly comforting at the same time. It continues into "Conservative" and "Dark Skies" with this spookily beautiful music and singing contrasting the fairly depressing yet poetic lyrics. The wind chimes were a great transition, loved that! The closer "Survivor" was another gem with alternating piano runs and guitar harmonics setting off the harmonies, eventually some raucous guitar crunching in as the drums hold things together. Great development here and some cool, odd synths in the background as well.

Rich, occasionally heavy but more often subtle, lovely yet turbulent, "Essence" is an album that I believe will thrill many fans of crossover prog and indie rock. An authentic and intimate sound which eclipses most of those popular, mechanical sounding bands that put me to sleep. I'm impressed.